Spaces: A tiny 1940s cottage

Updated 6:47 pm, Friday, February 15, 2013

Exposed wood walls and oak floors drew Jayme and Shane Boscamp to their one-bedroom cottage in New Braunfels.

Exposed wood walls and oak floors drew Jayme and Shane Boscamp to their one-bedroom cottage in New Braunfels.

Photo: Photos By Helen L. Montoya / San Antonio Express-News

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The original front door with its beveled glass intact was found in the garage and restored to the living room. The Boscamps said they were able to fit everything they need into their 811-square-foot home.

The original front door with its beveled glass intact was found in the garage and restored to the living room. The Boscamps said they were able to fit everything they need into their 811-square-foot home.

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Large glass jars atop the wardrobe hold vintage sheet music.

Large glass jars atop the wardrobe hold vintage sheet music.

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An old screen door slides from a pipe to separate the kitchen from the hall.

An old screen door slides from a pipe to separate the kitchen from the hall.

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An ornate gas heater sits at the foot of the bed.

An ornate gas heater sits at the foot of the bed.

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The living room is open to the spacious kitchen.

The living room is open to the spacious kitchen.

Spaces: A tiny 1940s cottage

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NEW BRAUNFELS — The charming front porch and fretwork on the 1940s house near historic Mill Street district captivated Shane and Jayme Boscamp immediately.

When Jayme saw the original exposed-wood walls, she was ecstatic.

“There was no Sheetrock, and none of that cheesecloth to tear down,” she said.

There was just one catch to the partially renovated home they purchased in 2011. It offered all of 811 square feet.

Shane had been working as a custom homebuilder in San Antonio, constructing houses larger than 3,000 square feet. When they couple decided to relocate to New Braunfels and downsize, they got down to business.

“When you downsize, it forces you to get rid of the things you don't need,” Boscamp said.

They found they were able to fit everything they needed into the space. The key was making sure the house accommodated their living style.

For example, the Boscamps have a master closet, complete with natural light.

“This house had two entrances from the front porch,” Shane said. “I think (previous owners) enclosed a section of the porch to add a second bedroom.”

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The Boscamps walled up the second entrance and converted the space into a master closet.

The home also had its original oak wood floors, molding and transom windows.

“We found the original front door in the garage and returned it,” Jayme said.

The wood door includes the traditional oval glass with beveled edge.

In the living room, Jayme — who has a small design business with her sister called Sanford and Sister — added unexpected features, such as long nails that serve as curtain rods with mattress spring coils as finials.

The open-concept kitchen already had been renovated when the Boscamps bought the house. It includes granite countertops and is large enough to accommodate a kitchen island.

“The cabinets were black, so we painted them white to give light to the kitchen,” Jayme said.

Between the kitchen and hallway, Shane and Jayme hung an old screen door from a length of pipe to create a sliding partition.

The unique mix of old and new continues in the bedroom. The chandelier is from Home Depot, and a large wardrobe came from a store in Boerne. Jayme placed two large glass vessels containing scrunched-up sheet music on top of the wardrobe. An ornate nonfunctioning gas heater sits at the foot of the bed.

Above the bed, Jayme hung the framework from a piece of old farm equipment as the backdrop to an old mirror.

On the back porch, a twin mattress spring hung from the overhang serves as a light fixture of sorts.

“I hung lights and ornaments from the springs during Christmas,” Jayme said.

The Boscamps plan to convert the free-standing garage into an outdoor-style entertainment den and laundry room. The garage includes the original sliding door with ornate metal hardware.

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House Rules

Hear the whistle: The train tracks near Shane and Jayme Boscamp's house might deter some who worry about noise. But it's all in your perspective. “My nephew loves it,” Jayme said. “He stands outside and waits for the trains. I tell him, 'Don't worry, they will come.'”

Ties to history: “With an older home, you do have to get used to some things — like no insulation,” Jayme said. “But we love it here. We will never sell this house. You always wonder what happened here several years ago.”

Old is new: Jayme continued to add to the home's charm on the exterior by adding items such as a vintage bicycle that rests by the side of the house.

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mySA.com: See more photos and previous Spaces stories online.

Got space?

Know of a beautiful and unique house that would be great in Spaces? Email suggestions to Home & Garden editor Tracy Hobson Lehmann, home@express-news.net.